The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1915. ACCOMMODATION IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 257, 9 April 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1915. ACCOMMODATION IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

The boarding accommodation in New Plymouth is utterly inadequate. This is strikingly shown at holiday. times, when it is an impossibility to find beds for all of those anxious to stop in the town. For instance, during the Christftias holidays, the Expansion and Tourist League office turned away over two hundred people desirous of spending a few days in New Plymouth. This is a staie of things which is doing the town considerable harm. Take those two hundred people, not to speak of others wlio found It impossible to find accommodation. At a low estimate they would have spent fitleast £4 a head; a total of £BOO entirely lost to the town. The Expansion and Tourist League was launched two and a half years ago to advertise the town's attractions and advantages. Comprehensive schemes to this end were embarked upon, the townspeople supporting them with the necessary finance. Postcards, printed envelopes, poster stamps, booklets, pamphlets, etc., were issued and circulated; cinematograph views of the chief points of interest were taken and shown throughout Australasia, : ; s Well as in other parts;' the newspaper press of the Dominion was freely utilised, as well as special tourist publications elsewhere; a central office was taken and a permanent secretary appointed to attend to enquiries and generally arrange for trips and tours. The result of all the work of this enthusiastic body of business men has been successful, perhaps beyond the expectations of the most sanguine, for there is now coming to the town more people than can !>e accommodated. The League is now confronted by a brick wall, and until it is surmounted it may as well suspend its activities. But is this desirable in the Interests of the town? It is not. More accommodation should be provided. H is for those who have the interests of the town at. heart to devise ways and means. Tn the first place the hotel accommodation of New Plymouth-leaves hmeli to be desired. With the exception nf one «„• two. th, hotels make no pretence to cater for boarders. Hotels, however, have their responsibilities as well lIS their privileges, and one „f (], o i,- chief responsibilities is lo provide proper and adequate accommodation Tor the general public. It. .Vflie doty or the Licensing Cmvmitee to see that this provision is iHade.bnt it i- ; a lamentable fast that the Taranaki Licensing Committee i.a.s so far failed in its duty in this important respect. It simple satisfies itself tvith seeing that other and less important conditions of the license are observed. Otherwise Vl . nVi . snri . ]llo] . f , one hotel ownr-rvouid ere thi- have heel, compelled to rebuild, and provide proper" necoinm.,l-.|i,-n. I'.ul apart ;',■„.„ ]i (V; ,s A l hotels, then- must surely I,e a good openlug in the town for a non-lieensi-d bote]. As a seaside resort New Plymouth cvi-

'are'"diKSK3 arpresent from coming would gtadly spend a week or two at the seaside. Vfo have in mind a temperance hotel in Timaru that caters chiefly for country visitors. The accommodation is excellent, the hotel is largely patronised, and evidently pays well. \ similar institution *.i New Plymouth should prove quite as successful. There Is a real need for something of the kin 1, and if private enterprise is not prepared to fill the need, townspeople should seriously consider undertaking the work themselves. To turn visitors away for laek of boarding facilities is an exceedingly bad thing for the town, and this condition of things simply cannot continue if New Plymouth is to continue to advance as a holiday centre ' and watering place.